Swander Pace Capital, a leading private equity firm specializing in investments in consumer products companies, has expanded its team with two new professionals, Carolyn Hanigan and Alina Costica DiMeglio. Hanigan will provide marketing leadership and strategic direction for SPC portfolio companies and be based in the firm’s San Francisco office. Costica DiMeglio will join the firm’s investment staff, focusing on deal sourcing and execution as well as portfolio management, and will be based in the firm’s New Jersey office.

“We are excited to add Carolyn and Alina, two experienced professionals, to our team at SPC,” said Andrew Richards, managing director at SPC. “Carolyn brings an impressive record of successfully implementing marketing and innovation strategies with some of the world’s leading consumer products goods companies. Her global perspective coupled with proven marketing capabilities will be of tremendous value as we help accelerate our portfolio companies’ growth,” continued Richards. “Alina brings compelling private equity and investment banking experience to our growing deal team in the SPC New Jersey office. Her keen financial instincts and dedication to building relationships will be instrumental in guiding our portfolio companies toward optimal outcomes.”

Hanigan has parlayed a successful career in marketing strategy into her new role as vice president of consumer marketing for SPC. She first worked with the firm in 2011 through her role as vice president, marketing at SPC portfolio company Merrick Pet Care, where she was the architect of the very successful Merrick Pet Care Real Food Revolution. In 2013, she founded Maven Branding, a brand consulting agency that worked extensively with other SPC portfolio companies including Wholesome Pet Care, Gilchrist & Soames and gloProfessional. Prior to joining SPC, Hanigan was the vice president of marketing for Mars, Inc. Previously, she served in various management and leadership roles at Nestlé S.A., The Clorox Company, and Kraft Foods. Hanigan graduated from Boston College with a bachelor’s degree and earned her MBA from St. Mary’s College.

DiMeglio recently received a MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and previously served as an associate at private equity firm Kohlberg & Co., where she worked on several portfolio company teams as well as the acquisition team. In addition, DiMeglio was an investment banking analyst at Merrill Lynch, specializing in mergers & acquisitions. She has Bachelor of Science, with a concentration in finance and management, from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University.

Swander Pace Capital is a leading private equity firm specializing in investments in growth-oriented, middle-market consumer products companies in North America and the United Kingdom. Since its inception in 1996, SPC has applied its consumer products expertise pursuing a consistent strategy of acquiring or investing in consumer products companies with leading market positions in attractive, defensible niches. With staff in San Francisco, New Jersey, and Ontario (Toronto), SPC provides portfolio companies with a unique mix of financial and strategic consulting support to create long-term value. SPC has raised over $1.3 billion of equity capital through five private equity funds and has led successful investments in more than 40 consumer products companies with total revenues in excess of $2.0 billion.